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Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Kasey Bensinger/Donna White
Date: June 11, 2003 Phone: (919) 733-5612
EASLEY APPOINTS FOUR TO THE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING FUND
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley appointed G.K. Butterfield Jr. of Wilson, Robert Neal Hunter Jr. of Greensboro, Thomas W. Ross of Winston-Salem and William Wallace Respess of Lenoir to the Advisory Council for the Public Campaign Financing Fund.
Butterfield serves as a special Superior Court judge, a five-year appointed term. In this capacity he travels throughout the state presiding over the Superior Court. He served as Supreme Court judge for two years filling the position that was vacated by I. Beverly Lake Jr. when he was elected to serve as Chief Justice. Butterfield was president of the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers from 1981 to 1984 and was one of the Association’s Lawyers of the Year in 1985. He is a 1971 graduate of North Carolina Central University and earned his law degree from NCCU in 1974.
Hunter is a partner with the law office of Hunter, Higgins, Miles, Elam & Benjamin, PLLC. He is a certified district court arbitrator in North Carolina and is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the North Carolina Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Hunter received his bachelor’s degree in 1969 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his juris doctorate in 1973 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law.
Ross is the director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. He served as chair of the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission from 1990 to 1999. Ross received his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College in 1972 and a juris doctorate with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975. He is a 1985 graduate of the National Judicial College.
Respess has practiced law in Caldwell County since 1976. He serves as trustee for Grandfather Home for Children and has served as a member of the N.C. Ports Authority, the Caldwell County Board of Elections, the N.C. Museum of Natural History, Village of Cedar Rock Planning Board and the United Way board of directors for Caldwell County.
The Advisory Council for the Public Campaign Financing Fund advises the Board of Elections on rules, procedures and opinions it adopts for the enforcement and administration of senate bill 1054, and the funding needs and operation of the Public Campaign Financing Fund. The council consists of five members each a serving four-year term. The Governor appoints four of the members. Note: the State Board of Elections will elect fifth member.

Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Kasey Bensinger/Donna White
Date: June 11, 2003 Phone: (919) 733-5612
EASLEY APPOINTS FOUR TO THE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING FUND
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley appointed G.K. Butterfield Jr. of Wilson, Robert Neal Hunter Jr. of Greensboro, Thomas W. Ross of Winston-Salem and William Wallace Respess of Lenoir to the Advisory Council for the Public Campaign Financing Fund.
Butterfield serves as a special Superior Court judge, a five-year appointed term. In this capacity he travels throughout the state presiding over the Superior Court. He served as Supreme Court judge for two years filling the position that was vacated by I. Beverly Lake Jr. when he was elected to serve as Chief Justice. Butterfield was president of the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers from 1981 to 1984 and was one of the Association’s Lawyers of the Year in 1985. He is a 1971 graduate of North Carolina Central University and earned his law degree from NCCU in 1974.
Hunter is a partner with the law office of Hunter, Higgins, Miles, Elam & Benjamin, PLLC. He is a certified district court arbitrator in North Carolina and is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the North Carolina Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Hunter received his bachelor’s degree in 1969 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his juris doctorate in 1973 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law.
Ross is the director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. He served as chair of the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission from 1990 to 1999. Ross received his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College in 1972 and a juris doctorate with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975. He is a 1985 graduate of the National Judicial College.
Respess has practiced law in Caldwell County since 1976. He serves as trustee for Grandfather Home for Children and has served as a member of the N.C. Ports Authority, the Caldwell County Board of Elections, the N.C. Museum of Natural History, Village of Cedar Rock Planning Board and the United Way board of directors for Caldwell County.
The Advisory Council for the Public Campaign Financing Fund advises the Board of Elections on rules, procedures and opinions it adopts for the enforcement and administration of senate bill 1054, and the funding needs and operation of the Public Campaign Financing Fund. The council consists of five members each a serving four-year term. The Governor appoints four of the members. Note: the State Board of Elections will elect fifth member.